Pair of antique floral Dresden porcelain vases

These ostentatious, lively vases are exceptional examples of the ceramicist's craft, set with intricate floral decorations as well as Rococo style cartouches. They are the work of the Carl Thieme Porcelain Manufactory in Dresden, probably the name most synonymous with 'Dresden porcelain'.

These large vases beautifully showcase the skill and innovation of the Dresden makers: each one stands at 71cm (28 inches) in height and is ovoid in shape, with floral bouquets shown around their exteriors, as well as painted scenes of figures in landscapes, and courting couples, in the style of 189th Century painter Antoine Watteau. These decorations instantly mark these vases out as examples of the neo-Rococo style for which the Dresden workshops were famed.

The bases and covers of each vase are decorated similarly, and the covers feature pierced elements (making these vases suitable for pot-pourri) and are surmounted by brightly-coloured flowers. There are underglaze marks on each vase for Carl Thieme.